Hug your favorite Vet and thank them for their service! My dad served proudly in the United States Air Force and Army for 35 years and I love him more because he served so admirably! Remember that vets service gives us the freedoms we enjoy in this great land and that today is for the living veteran. Just a gentle reminder. I guess we can thank the vets of Minas Tirith, Rohan, and other friendly locales for the eventual triumph over Sauron's evil dominion!

was bathed in autumn sun, as thousands bowed their heads to remember sacrifices from long ago, and more recent conflicts, in silence. Representatives from many countries and organisations laid wreaths, as well as the Royals. Whatever we call the day, we can all remember, and learn from our pasts, and hope that one day Remembrance will become something we do for purely historical reasons, not to mourn our latest losses.

at a service I was involved with this afternoon. There were readings and lots of music, by both adults and kids, and it was well attended. And some vets wore their old uniforms, or if they couldn't get into them, then their "bling" (medals, but one former submarine commander did call them his "bling" ).

And afterwards there were refreshments and coffee and lots of just talking and hugging! A wonderful way to say "thank you". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Allow me to add here, a poem written by Geoffrey Bache Smith, shortly after the death of Robert Q. Gilson in battle, leaving Tolkien's beloved TCBS with now three members:

Let us tell quiet stories of kind eyes And placid brows where peace and learning sate; Of misty gardens under evening skies Where four would walk of old, with steps sedate. Let's have no word of all the sweat and blood. Of all the noise and strife and dust and smoke (We who have seen Death surging like a flood, Wave upon wave, that leaped and raced and broke). Or let's sit silently, we three together, Around a wide hearth-fire that's glowing red, Giving no thought to all the stormy weather That flies above the roof-tree overhead, And he, the fourth, that lies all silently In some far-distant and untended grave, Under the shadow of a shattered tree, Shall leave the company of the hapless brave, And draw nigh unto us for memory's sake, Because a look, a word, a deed, a friend, Are bound with cords that never a man may break, Unto his heart for ever, until the end.

Geoffrey died of injuries a few weeks later. And Tolkien would remind us of what veterans have endured when he wrote Lord of the Rings. Peace to all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~